Device allowing the end of an optical fiber to be positioned and held in place inside a substrate

Abstract

Device allowing the end ( 4 ) of an optical fiber ( 3 ) to be positioned and held in place inside a substrate ( 1 ), wherein: the substrate ( 1 ) has a groove ( 2 ) intended to accommodate the end ( 4 ) of the optical fiber ( 3 ), said groove ( 2 ) possessing at least one plane wall ( 8 ) perpendicular to the principal plane ( 9 ) of the substrate ( 1 ); the groove ( 2 ) includes a moveable part ( 5 ), located on the face opposite the plane wall ( 8 ) and capable of moving toward said plane wall ( 8 ) between two positions, namely; a retracted position in which the end of the optical fiber ( 3 ) can penetrate freely into the groove ( 2 ); a locked position in which the moveable part ( 5 ) comes into contact with the optical fiber ( 3 ) in order to press it against said plane wall ( 8 ); it includes means ( 21, 24 ) allowing a force to be exerted on the moveable part ( 5 ) in order to cause it to move with respect to the plane wall ( 8 )

1 . A device allowing the end ( 4 ) of an optical fiber ( 3 ) to be positioned and held in place inside a substrate ( 1 ), wherein: 
 the substrate ( 1 ) has a groove ( 2 ) intended to accommodate the end ( 4 ) of the optical fiber ( 3 ), said groove ( 2 ) possessing at least one plane wall ( 8 ) perpendicular to the principal plane ( 9 ) of the substrate ( 1 );    the groove ( 2 ) includes a moveable part ( 5 ), located on the face opposite the plane wall ( 8 ) and capable of moving toward said plane wall ( 8 ) between two positions, namely; 
 a retracted position in which the end of the optical fiber ( 3 ) can penetrate freely into the groove ( 2 );  
 a locked position in which the moveable part ( 5 ) comes into contact with the optical fiber ( 3 ) in order to press it against said plane wall ( 8 );  
   it includes means ( 21 ,  24 ) allowing a force to be exerted on the moveable part ( 5 ) in order to cause it to move with respect to the plane wall ( 8 ).    
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , which also includes return means ( 17 ,  18 ) capable of opposing any movement of the moveable part under the action of said force.  
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means allowing a force to be exerted on the moveable part allow the moveable part to move from the retracted position to the locked position.  
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means allowing a force to be exerted on the moveable part allow the moveable part to move from the locked position to the retracted position.  
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the return means are formed by two beams ( 17 ,  18 ) made in the substrate, which connect the moveable part ( 5 ) to the rest of the substrate ( 1 ), said beams ( 17 ,  18 ) being oriented approximately parallel to the principal axis ( 6 ) of the groove ( 2 ).  
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the force exerted on the moveable part is electro-static in nature.  
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the means for exerting the force on the moveable part comprise two arrays of blades ( 22 ,  23 ) forming two interdigitated combs ( 21 ,  24 ), one ( 21 ) of these combs being integral with the moveable part and the other comb ( 24 ) being integral with the rest of the substrate ( 1 ), application of an electrical voltage between the two combs ( 21 ,  24 ) causing them to move closer together.  
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in claims  2 ,  4  and  7 , wherein application of the electrical voltage causes the moveable part ( 5 ) to pass from the locked position to the retracted position, removal of this voltage allowing the return means to cause the moveable part ( 5 ) to return to the locked position.  
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in claims  2 ,  3  and  7 , wherein application of the electrical voltage causes the moveable part to pass from the retracted position to the locked position, removal of this voltage allowing the return means to cause the moveable part to return to the retracted position.  
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the force exerted on the moveable part is electrothermal, piezoelectric, magnetostatic or mechanical in nature.